Exploring long-term changes in fertility differentials by level of education: Review and discussion of research issues

During the course of the 20th century, higher education was almost universally linked to lower and later fertility levels among women.

This study aims to make a case for a global comparative research on completed fertility by cohort, sex, and level of education. We review the existing evidence and main theoretical perspectives, put together a variety of research questions, arguments and hypotheses, identify data to be used, and define future research agenda on the topic.

A broad focus on global cross-country perspective will facilitate research into institutional determinants of the observed education-fertility differentials. The question of global convergence or divergence in education-fertility differentials will play a prominent role in our research. We will systematically explore conditions leading to diminishing or persistent education-fertility differentials across cohorts, including the roles of different family policies, norms and values pertaining to reproduction and childcare, gender systems, family and partnership patterns. We will also analyse the gradients of male and female fertility by level of education and link our empirical findings with the existing theoretical perspectives. Finally, we will explore hypotheses linking aggregate cohort intentions earlier in life with eventually completed fertility.